I am from Miami University.... OF OHIO!

Its the official start of school today. We had our orientation session this morning and the TAs (Teaching Assistants) brought us around on a tour of the College. Kings College, which is situated right around the city centre of Cambridge is stunningly, jaw-droppingly awesome. Pembroke College has a very pretty surrounding too! The PKP (Pembroke-Kings Program) students will be having our classes mostly in these two buildings and I just can't wait till I get into the routine of it! I know...its weird to be excited for classes. 

I already met a lot of people from around the United States today, who are also in this program with me. Most of them come from the West Coast - University of California (Berkeley, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego etc etc etc), to be specific. So, naturally... when I tell people that I am from Miami University, they will respond with the same question or the same statement - "so how's it like in Florida? / I'm sure Florida is amazing". Guess how many times I got this? No reward for guessing it right. Oh yes. At least 30 times today. Not. Even. Exaggerating. 

There are quite some rules and regulation in Kings College. One particular that's worth mentioning is that it is a felony to step on the grassy areas of the college grounds. There are only 2 designated places where we're allowed to do so. The dining hall is pretty cool too - imagine Harry Potter - those long dining tables and portraits hanging on the walls... Gothic style...yups, Close. Oh, and did I mention that being a historical town and home to a world renowned university, there are tourists everywhere here in Cambridge? In front of Kings College too. It actually feels kind of privileged to be able to enter the grounds of the college, especially where there's a sign that says - "STOP. RESTRICTED ACCESS. NO ENTRY" and when visitors are mostly shunned away.

The PKP group is heading up to Edinburgh, Scotland this weekend and I am stoked!!

Gothic Architecture class in 10 minutes time. Pictures will be uploaded when I have the time. I'm sorry this is such a short one but I hope I'll be able to blog with full details some time in the near future. 

Junior Scholars Move In

Hello all!

Just wanted to update you all on the progress of the Junior Scholars Program! The staff for the Junior Scholars program moved in on Friday and we prepared the hall all day Saturday. Today (Sunday) we had our move in day for all of our students and everything went smoothly, which is always the goal for a day when so much information is going all different ways. As I mentioned in an earlier post, all of our students are rising high school seniors who come and take two Miami classes in 6 weeks. The staff counsels and programs for them to make their experience one that will help them mature to a new level while enjoying the ride. We started today early with giving of keys and moving of luggage and finished late breaking from corridor meetings. We had a couple meetings for the parents of the students as well as a dinner picnic, followed by an all hall meeting before the corridor meetings. It was an extremely busy day but we accomplished a lot. I wish I was a better photographer and I promise the next post will have pictures.

I want to mention that I am so excited for these students to go through this program. Throughout the day I kept picturing myself as a 17 year old high school student moving into this college residence hall and so many emotions would come to mind. Fear, excitement, anxiety and so many more. I just kept seeing myself go through the program, day by day seeing my mind open to the world around me. Learning so many things about college, but more importantly so many things about myself and how I fit into a community. These six weeks are surely to give students a snap shot or peek at what college will be like but it will provide so much more. It will change the way they experience the last year of high school as well as their 4 years of college. I cannot wait to watch these students grow and learn from their classes, counselors, each other and themselves. I will surely keep you updated as I go with them on this journey. It has been such a privilege to have the opportunity I have had with this program and the leadership experience I have gained so far has been immense. I hope all is going well with your summer, and make sure you come back.

Love and Honor,

Daniel

Totally Summer: The Beginning

This is Benjamin













When it comes to seasons, they’re all pretty great. Playing late afternoon soccer against Autumn’s backdrop of perpetual sunset colors is classy, no doubt; on the other side of the rotation, Spring is that more-than-welcome breath of fresh air and green life; and almost anyone could make a case for Winter’s carefully planned snow-and-ice ambushes, and then for the ensuing snowball battles, for fireside reading, cold fingers, warm drinks, and holiday cheer. But let’s be honest. When the sun comes knocking early and parties until late, when it’s never a bad time to be outside, and when, for a few glorious months, you get to do basically whatever you want, Summer, my friends, rules them all.

For the first part of my summer (May until mid-June) I opted to spend some quality time in St. Louis, MO (woo woo!) with my family. We celebrated my older brother’s graduation, did lots of yard work, took evening walks around our neighborhood with our dog Samantha, and spent hours talking after dinner. That’s one thing about my family that I love—we never just have dinner, but rather have dinner and then talk for hours sometimes, sitting around the table and laughing while we tell stories or while my dad gripes about me being vegetarian. (He’s practically a carnivore and a bona fide grill master, so the family joke is that I pretty much betrayed him when I decided to adopt a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.) (He’ll get over it.)

The summer in St. Louis is really fantastic because there’s always so much to do in and around the city. Like a lot of college students, I took a summer course at a community college (4 weeks, microbiology) to save some money while I was home. But I hardly let that dominate my summer; I did tons of great things in my first five weeks! For Example…

St. Louis’ Forest Park (which is a larger and more beautiful version of NY’s Central Park) is home to many of my favorite places, like the art museum and the great basin (every high school prom-goer has a photo there), as well as the courts where I play handball with my grandfather three times a week (he beats me every time).

It’s also home to the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival that my girlfriend, Katie, and I attend every summer—this summer was Merry Wives of Windsor––and we were two of many who came out to enjoy the free outdoor festival. We gave it two thumbs up!

In an excursion toward the east, Katie and I went to Pittsburgh to visit family and were lucky enough to visit Falling Waters, perhaps the most famous Frank Lloyd Wright house in the U.S.


Finally, my best friend, Mushnik, and I decided one morning to go on a bike trip. “Where to?” I asked. “How about west?” “Let’s roll.” We threw some provisions on my BOB trailer and hit the road, winding through vineyard and farm country—and got poured on a few times—as is only too appropriate for a summer bike adventure.

I’ll write again soon, and I think I’ll run with the “Totally Summer” title. Rock on!

One too many Universities in One Summer

Previously, I have visited a couple of Universities in the U.S, in Texas, to be specific.
For the past 2 weeks, I have been doing more traveling, visiting friends who are studying in the United Kingdom. Some of whom I have not seen in years. I am thankful to have this amazing opportunity to catch up with them once again.

First stop. London:
It was very rushed. I did not get to capture very many pictures of the Universities here but I got a glance at parts of the London School of Economics and Kings College London.
There isn't a real college campus environment for these school. Academic buildings are scattered. Not exactly my kind of ideal college campus I would say.

Second stop. Hull (about 3 hours away from London by Train):
There is the University of Hull, a total different environment from the previous 2 schools because Hull is a much smaller city. Over here, the school buildings are within walking distance, a.k.a closer to one another. In fact, to me, it seems much smaller than Miami. There are not many roads accessible by cars, thus to get from one building to another, one will only get to choose between walking or cycling.

My friend, Chin Yin who is currently studying Law in the University of Hull

Third stop. Dundee (9 hours by bus from Hull...):
I traveled all the way up to Scotland on my own, which took up most of the day. I loved the view on the way though. Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland, after Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. And here's the University of Dundee. If you ask me, the buildings' architecture in the University of Dundee do not stand out as much as Hull's. There is no uniformity like Miami's... probably because there're some recently built ones. Even though there is sort of a campus ground, buildings are still pretty spread out from one another. Comparing the both, I would vote for Hull's. However, neither the former nor the latter is my favorite so far. Read on and you will find out why.

Fourth Stop. Glasgow, Scotland (approximately 2 hours by bus from Dundee...):
The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, the second oldest university in Scotland and the fourth oldest in the United Kingdom...My favorite university grounds so far!! My time in Glasgow was really short. I did not have the time to properly sit down and catch up with my friend, let alone tour around the entire university campus but the parts that I went to is enough to take my breath away. Its architecture is very different from that of Miami's as you can see...To me, it feels like Hogwarts...

Fifth Stop. St. Andrews, Scotland (approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour from Dundee by bus):
Its a historical little town, and of course, home of the University of St. Andrews where Prince Williams of Wales went to school. I did more sight seeing in this town rather than touring its University so, I can't say much about it. It is, however, the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the United Kingdom.
Sixth and Final Stop before I get a glance of my own summer school this weekend. Liverpool (7 hours by bus and then another hour by train):
I will be touring the University of Liverpool later today, else, hopefully tomorrow. My friends are busy working and doing their placement, unfortunately. All I know, its another a city campus...

Phew... This should conclude my university hopping experience here in the United Kingdom. Apart from that, I did manage to do some sightseeing along with my very packed schedule. One thing I've learned though... public transportation is very convenient here. It can be very cheap to travel around yet expensive if you do not get tickets at appropriate times...
I am almost broke. Moral of the story? Do not buy your transportation tickets at the eleventh hour.

Well. Hope that's good enough for now.

Updates from the weekend

SO I know it's Wed. already but I had such an awesome weekend that I just wante to share it with y'all! After Alumni stuff on Sat, I went back to Centerville (yes, again!) for Father's Day.
My dad is a big fisherman and so he has a boat. So, on Sun, my family spent the day on Ceasar's Creek Lake, which is about 1/2 hour away from Centerville near Waynesville. While I do enjoy fishing, my favorite boating activity is tubing!!!I had a blast (except the next mornign my arms hurt so bad from being in the "tubing position" for so long! ha)! Being on the water is SO relaxing to me and I love zooming around the lake, but then I also love just laying in the boat and feeling the the gentle rock of the water. Sigh:) We packed lunch and ate out there and just had anawesome time. Here are some more pics of the lake and all of our fun inder the sun....

I told you it was relaxing!!! Haha...I was getting apower nap in

Gina and I cooled off in the lake...it was HOT outside!

After a great day on the water, I headed back to MU, but this time my BFF form home, Kelsey, came with me!!!!!! We have been friends since pre-school and this past year (our 1st year at college) was our longest time apart. since she goes to the University of Cincinnati.
We both had such differing schedules that she was never able to visit me, so FINALLY she could make it down. It was SOOOOO much fun hanging

and she got to meet a lot of the SOULs too! We all went on a hike in the woods on the trails down by Yager Stadium. It was so cool bc we stopped and hung out for awhile by this mini waterfall and took some great pictures. We made our way through the woods and ended up emerging at the Formal Gardens--which was BEAUTIFUL as always! Needless to say after all that we were really hungry. So, we made a Bagel and Deli run--Kels's 1st!!!!!--and it was incredible as always too:) Yay Cunch n' Munch!! haha. Kels had to lave after that and the rest of us had to prepare for this coming week. O man, what a great reguvinator for the last full week:)

~mandy:)

Feelin The Love: MU Alumni Weekend

So orientation (session 11) started back up yesterday after having a 6 day break--it was much needed! I went back to MU on Sat morning for all the Alumni festivities and it was absolutely AMAZING! Wow, I don't think I've ever been so proud to be a Miamian. It was also kinda weird, though, since I just finished my 1st year and am clearly not an alumni, but I still felt like such a part of the group.

My favorite part happened at Upham Arch: the renewal of the vows that set a world record with over 1,000 couples participating. I feel like my words can't do it justice in describing what it was like to be there at the arch surrounded by so much Miami love....Ah, I can only imagine what it must be like to be the revered "Miami Merger." What was so amazing is that I'm pretty sure every generation was represented. OMG, this is incredible...there was a couple there who were married for 67 years! Can you even imagine?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I had
so many goose bumps and even teared up because the ceremony was so moving. Here are some pics to give you an idea of what it was like to be part of such a historic moment....

LOTS of people at Upham Arch for the "Miami Merger Moment" and I was in the middle of it all!
The newest Miami Mergers made it official...this was such a cool procession with all the men in uniform and all. What a beautiful bride too:)

Rachel's parents are Miami Mergers so it was AMAZING to be with them and be right there to hear them renew their vows. What a great couple:)
OMG, this is what started the flow of tears...Melt my heart. Is this not the cutest?! I can only hope to be like this adorable couple someday. They just prove that love really does last forever:)
Jacqueline and I felt a litle out of place so we became a couple for a few minutes;) haha.

After this amazing moment, I went to help out athletics promote the big Miami/UK fotball game and to hand out football schedules. It was AMAZING talking with everyone...I had 2 especially memorable converstions: One was with a man nicknamed Orbie (class of '54) who used to play football at MU, but doens't want to go to any games now bc we're not the "Redskins" anymore. H started off being really bitter, but then the more we talked the more he opened up and it was hard to stop the conversation (I wasn't doing my job! haha). Another was with a woman named Kay (class of '50) who spoke Spanish!!!!! and many other languages and had traveled all over the world. It was fascinating listening to her adventures and she was really excited to learn that I'm studying abroad my junior year.

I was tlaking to so many people that I started losing my voice! So, I went back to Emerson to change and then hung out with the SOULS the rest of the night. We ate great food and
listened to the Remnants and the Cheezies. 2 of the VERY popular a capella groups on campus. It was so awesome bc it was not only the current members, but also the alumni came back. So they did separate songs and then sang together. And at the end they ALL (Remnants AND Cheezies) sang together. Ah, it was so great:) After that, another band came on stage to play for the rest of the night. It was kinda awkward, though, bc a lot of people had already left and it was kinda dead. However, never fear when the SOULs are near! We started dancing and soon people started moving to the dance floor. It was amazing to see how just a small group of us could encourage people to join in the fun. We even got to go up on stage and dance!
haha. I had SO much fun being in such a historic, yet FUN and upbeat environment. I can't even imagine what it's gonna be lie when I actually AM and alumni!!! lol.

Say WHAT?!

It is when you travel in a foreign land that allows you to learn the most. Sometimes about yourself, sometimes about others.

Today, I learned that some people needs to travel out of their country or if not, at least read widely and be informed... just so they know that the world does not revolve around them; just so they learn about equality and know that they are not superior to others; just so when they realize how big this world is, they will find themselves only appearing to be 2 INCHES TALL!

Story of the day: I met 3 racists on the streets today. I have heard about stories of such from my friends and showed empathy but this is definitely my first encounter of such extreme incident.

They publicly and openly made remarks about my friend and I while we were just walking past...

"Hey Chinks!! Tell Me huh?!  Tell me! What are you guys doing in England?"

"Oh!! here are those Chinky people again!"

"it is because of you Chinks that I've voted for BNP..." (British National Party)

Really, kids? REALLY? 

Never have I felt this offended in my life... I now understand how it really feels to be discriminated by race. There was this rage urging me to confront them and punch them in their face for acting this way. On the other hand, I knew that there's nothing we could do but to tolerate just in case they have something else up their sleeves. Something like a dagger. You never know what these kids carry with them...

I mean, I only had my camera with me. That is all. So, this was all I could do...

In full honesty, I do feel ashamed for you for being such a disgrace to the young generation, kids.